Key Performance Indicators
Department of Natural Resources
Mission
Develop, conserve and maximize the use of Alaska's natural resources consistent with the public interest. Alaska Constitution Article 8; Alaska Statute (AS) 03, AS 27, AS 38, AS 40, AS 41, AS 43.90, AS 14.30.740
Key Performance Indicators
| FY2026 Management Plan as of 02/13/2026 (in thousands) | |||||||||
| Department of Natural Resources Totals | Funding | Positions | |||||||
| UGF Funds | DGF Funds | Other Funds | Federal Funds | Total Funds | Full Time | Part Time | Non Perm | ||
| $71,183.2 | $52,089.1 | $54,261.2 | $17,985.6 | $195,519.1 | 770 | 214 | 71 | ||
| 2: |
Mitigate threat to the public from natural hazards by providing comprehensive fire protection services on state, private and municipal lands, and through identifying significant geologic hazards.
|
Funding | Positions | ||||||
|
UGF Funds |
DGF Funds |
Other Funds |
Federal Funds |
Total Funds |
Full Time |
Part Time |
Non Perm |
||
| $30,005.9 | $814.0 | $5,594.0 | $1,354.8 | $37,768.7 | 95 | 183 | 3 | ||
- Target: Publish reports or maps providing improved assessment of geologic hazards that could pose significant risks to public safety or infrastructure.
- Target: Contain more than 90% of wildland fires at less than 10 acres within Alaska"s heavily populated areas (Critical and Full Management Options) in accordance with the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan.
- Target: Provide wildland fire training to agency personnel, fire departments, and urban and rural communities.
- Target: Fill the firefighting needs for the average fire season with Alaskan firefighters.
- Target: Provide safe, cost effective wildland fire protection services to the State of Alaska.
- Target: Reduce the impact of wildfire smoke on the public by working to mitigate smoke concerns from fires near communities.
- Target: Minimize lost work days for firefighters.
| 3: |
Provide access to state lands for public and private use, settlement, and recreation.
|
Funding | Positions | ||||||
|
UGF Funds |
DGF Funds |
Other Funds |
Federal Funds |
Total Funds |
Full Time |
Part Time |
Non Perm |
||
| $6,002.8 | $23,866.0 | $8,569.5 | $2,462.7 | $40,901.0 | 216 | 5 | 43 | ||
- Target: Process a minimum of 80% of land use applications received.
- Target: Process a minimum of 90% of new water use applications received.
- Target: Process a minimum of 80% of land use applications received.
- Target: Process a minimum of 90% of new water use applications received.
- Target: Provide accessible, clean, safe, and well-maintained park facilities for Alaska residents and visitors by reducing deferred maintenance needs in park units.
- Target: Provide accessible, clean, safe, and well-maintained park facilities for Alaska residents and visitors by reducing deferred maintenance needs in park units.
- Target: Collect fees necessary to reach authorized program receipt funds in the Parks Management and Access budget; annually evaluate and if necessary, raise fees in order to reach program receipts authorization.
- Target: Collect fees necessary to reach authorized program receipt funds in the Parks Management and Access budget; annually evaluate and if necessary, raise fees in order to reach program receipts authorization.
| 4: |
Ensure sufficient data acquisition and assessment of land and resources to foster responsible resource and community development and public safety.
|
Funding | Positions | ||||||
|
UGF Funds |
DGF Funds |
Other Funds |
Federal Funds |
Total Funds |
Full Time |
Part Time |
Non Perm |
||
| $9,111.6 | $5,027.3 | $7,579.3 | $6,915.2 | $28,633.4 | 110 | 12 | 12 | ||
- Target: Publish airborne geophysical survey data for Alaska`s minerals-interest lands.
- Target: Publish reports on energy-related geology that assist the energy industry and state agencies in exploring for and managing energy resources on state-interest lands.
Performance Detail
| Priority 1: Foster responsible commercial development and use of state land and natural resources, consistent with the public interest, for long-term wealth and employment. |
Target #1: Provide Alaskan firms in Southern Southeast Alaska with the maximum volume of state timber sustainably available.
Ketchikan continues to be the division`s highest revenue producing office. The Ketchikan positions have had high turnover rates and are challenging to fill. The Ketchikan office continues to leverage contractor and industry partnerships to assist in sale planning and development. Through Good Neighbor Agreements with the US Forest Service, DOF has been able to provide timber to the industry from the Tongass National Forest in addition to state forest lands. This year, the Kosciusko GNA contract was completed, and DOF is currently administering the Vallenar Bay GNA contract. For FY26, DOF signed the Thomas Bay GNA contract. Target Last Modified: 10/14/2025 |
Target #2: Offer 200 parcels of land at auction.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #3: Offer 200 parcels of land at auction.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #4: Facilitate and improve regulatory and lease compliance monitoring of AS.38.35 pipelines.
The Pipeline Section generally applies a systematic approach to lease compliance inspections based on lessee annual reports and proposed work plans. Each field inspection is conducted according to a project mission developed around lease stipulations and the lessee`s work plans and maintenance activities, or other lease related actions such as amendments, releases of interest, and renewals. FY 2025: Field, compliance oversight and permitting activities continued to increase, in part due to the increase in Oil and Gas development projects and changes within the industry. The Pipeline Section with our liaison members carried out 348 actions, including 67 lease, land, water and materials actions; 281 oversight activities including inspections, reports, reviews, and surveillances. The section continued to develop Geospatial Information System (GIS) processes and tools, and financial audits. Staffing and recruiting continued to be a challenge. FY 2024: Field, compliance oversight and permitting activities continued to increase to slightly above pre-COVID-19 levels, in part due to new Oil and Gas development projects. The Pipeline Section with our liaison members carried out 202 actions, including 51 lease, land, water, and material actions; and 151 oversight activities including: inspections, reports, reviews, and surveillances. The section continued to develop Geospatial Information System (GIS) processes and tools which were first initiated in FY2019. Staffing and recruiting continued to be a challenge. FY 2023: The Pipeline Section observed activity, including field surveillances and permit applications similar to pre-COVID-19 activities. Although the metrics provided showed a decrease from FY 2022, that was due to a change in internal reporting. The Pipeline Section saw an increase in new lease applications, and authorization requests from lessees during FY 2023. FY 2022: The Pipeline Section observed activity, including field surveillances and permit applications, more consistent with pre-COVID-19 activities. This was reflected in the FY 2022 metrics which captured previous years prior to and during the inconsistencies associated with FY 2019-2021. FY 2020 — 2021: Inspections, permit applications, and surveillances were minimized between FY 2020 and FY 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions implemented by lessees and industry, and long-term vacancies in the Pipeline Section. Oversight and regulatory actions of pipelines shifted from predominantly fieldwork to remote coordination and digital information sharing. At that time, industry reprioritized routine maintenance of pipelines during COVID-19 restrictions to restrict work that was critical to the safety, environment and integrity of pipelines and deferred routine maintenance to later. During these years, the Pipeline Section saw fewer permit applications. FY 2019: Starting in FY 2019, the Pipeline Section implemented a GIS platform that was utilized for gathering field data and pipeline system data while conducting inspections, thus changing some of the metrics originally collected. Target Last Modified: 10/06/2025 |
Target #5: Conduct multi-agency coordination on planning, review, permitting, compliance, and monitoring for a range of responsible natural resource and infrastructure development projects consistent with the Department"s and participating State agencies" missions.
OPMP works with project proponents and regulators to develop timelines that align, to the greatest extent possible, statutory, regulatory, and other permit requirements with project needs and goals. Progress is monitored, potential challenges and opportunities are identified, and support is continuously provided. OPMP continues to anticipate an upward trend in the near-term (1-2 years) in the mining, energy, and broadband categories, due to demand for OPMP services in line with Alaska"s goals and the Department"s mission, and commensurate with outside funding and other support. OPMP"s principal challenge is maintaining sufficient organizational capacity (i.e. staffing, training, expertise, budget resources, etc.) to adjust to fluctuations in workloads and deliver timely, multi-agency coordination on planning, review, permitting, compliance, and monitoring. Such workload fluctuations are often driven by factors outside OPMP"s control (i.e. economic conditions, regulatory changes, commodity process, investment trends, available funding, etc.) Related links: |
Target #6: Provide stable or increasing economic benefit from the use of trees and forests on state land by selling state timber to twenty or more Alaskan businesses.
Target Last Modified: 10/14/2025 |
Target #7: Increase awareness of Alaska Grown products and market options and expand gross farm product sales.
The data provided comes from surveys conducted throughout the year by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services. Core services continue to demonstrate growth in monetary value of Alaska agricultural products sold. Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #8: Increase awareness of Alaska Grown products and market options and expand gross farm product sales.
The data provided comes from surveys conducted throughout the year by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services. Core services continue to demonstrate growth in monetary value of Alaska agricultural products sold. Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #9: Operate the Forest Resources and Practices Act program to achieve 100% implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).
The division uses compliance monitoring results to identify training needs. Training emphasizes specific BMPs with relatively low ratings and targets operators with a history of compliance issues. The Division is conducting more BMP training for new incoming field foresters to perform inspections. Target Last Modified: 10/14/2025 |
Target #10: Promote safer boating behaviors on Alaska"s waters.
Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
| Priority 2: Mitigate threat to the public from natural hazards by providing comprehensive fire protection services on state, private and municipal lands, and through identifying significant geologic hazards. |
Target #1: Publish reports or maps providing improved assessment of geologic hazards that could pose significant risks to public safety or infrastructure.
The Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys` (DGGS) Geologic Hazards Section published 30 hazards-related reports and datasets in FY2025, including nine lidar datasets, eight ortho-images with an accompanying photogrammetry-derived elevation dataset, two coastal hazards flood impact assessments (for the communities of Deering and Kwigillingok), one tsunami inundation report (False Pass), nine landslide hazard studies, and one information circular on landslide hazards. The Hydrology and Surficial Geology Section published 11 hazards-related reports in FY2025, including one poster and one report on debris flow assessment of the Sitka area, two reports from Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources project work (including data from field investigations in the eastern NPRA southwest of Nuiqsut and geophysical data along a portion of the proposed Triangle Road near Utqiagvik), and four reports associated with geologic mapping and debris flow investigations in Haines. The section also published two surficial geologic maps near Kivalina and the Council Bluff area on the Seward Peninsula, as well as a report on paleoecology (Tofty mining district). The Volcanology Section, working in conjunction with federal U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Alaska Fairbanks partners, published three volcano-hazard related reports and datasets in FY2025, including a dataset of previously unpublished whole-rock analyses from Alaska volcanoes, an information circular about Mount Spurr, and a techniques and methods paper for glass laser-ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis methods for tephra studies. Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #2: Contain more than 90% of wildland fires at less than 10 acres within Alaska"s heavily populated areas (Critical and Full Management Options) in accordance with the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan.
One of DOF`s key goals is to contain 90% of wildland fires at less than 10 acres within Critical and Full management option areas. In 2025, 100% of the 169 fires in “Critical” were contained at under 10 acres, and 22 out of 52, 42% of fires within “Full” were contained at less than 10 acres. Target Last Modified: 10/07/2025 |
Target #3: Provide wildland fire training to agency personnel, fire departments, and urban and rural communities.
In 2025, DOF conducted 115 courses across a range of subjects and disciplines, including mental health and emergency medical training. Extensive training is provided not only to state employees but also to cooperators such as local and federal government employees. There were over 1000 cooperators, and 1000 EFF trained this year. Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #4: Fill the firefighting needs for the average fire season with Alaskan firefighters.
A successful program requires a trained, experienced Alaskan firefighting workforce combined with infrastructure, equipment, and logistical support. Within DOF Fire Management Areas, there has been a consistent turnover of fire managers, Type 3 Incident Commanders, Division Supervisors as well as dispatch and aviation personnel. Recruitment and retention of a qualified firefighting force within the DOF has been challenging due to the short season of employment combined with more competitive wages and benefits in the private and Federal sectors. Department Order 017 identifies that the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry provide a strong initial attack, management, and support capability to assure maximum efficiency is achieved for an average fire year based on the historical fire occurrence. As the complexity and length of the fire season increases, the need for experienced personnel to manage these fires has become even more critical. Extensive knowledge and training are necessary to make timely decisions about strategy and tactics. This is more critical as the urban interface environment and the responsibilities to protect lives, homes and communities continues to grow. Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/09/2025 |
Target #5: Provide safe, cost effective wildland fire protection services to the State of Alaska.
Modified" management option is treated as "Full" earlier in the season when fires have a greater potential for growth and after management evaluation around July 10th, they are converted and treated as "Limited". These management options are meant as an initial guide only, and agency administrators may alter the response based on resource availability, values at risk, safety, ecological benefit or cost concerns. The 2025 fire season was episodic and regionally varied, with alternating periods of heat and rain. While not as extreme as record-setting years like 2004 or 2015, the season has still posed significant challenges, particularly in the northern interior, with 492 confirmed fires burning a total of 1,006,157 acres across the state. The Northern Region saw extensive engagement from multiple incident management teams due to the complexity and scale of several large fires. Notable fires included, the Bear/St. George fires, the Nenana Ridge Complex, the Himalaya Road/Aggie Creek fires, and the 7 Mile Lookout/Tok River. These fires threatened critical values at risk, transportation corridors, the Trans Alaskan Pipeline, the Alaskan Railroad, critical power corridors, and numerous sub divisions. Lightning was a major ignition source, with over 12,000 strikes recorded in a single day in early July. Dry fuels and duff conditions made new ignitions likely. Alaska`s wildfire response in 2025 involved substantial resource mobilization across agencies. Firefighting efforts included deployment of aircraft, equipment, crews, and overhead personnel, with support from the Northwest Compact and smokejumpers. Interagency cooperation and external support were key to meeting the demands of the season`s extensive fire activity. Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/09/2025 |
Target #6: Reduce the impact of wildfire smoke on the public by working to mitigate smoke concerns from fires near communities.
Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/07/2025 |
Target #7: Minimize lost work days for firefighters.
The Alaska fire medic program has been a robust, interagency program that trains and outfits fire medics who can be mobilized to fires when needed. Fire medics are crucial in Alaska due to the remoteness of the work, and distance and time that are required to get a patient to a medical facility. The BLM/Alaska Fire Service has been the lead agency in developing the program over the years, but with a change in the BLM`s national management of medical programs, DOF is taking more responsibility for maintaining its own fire medic program into the future. Target Last Modified: 10/07/2025 |
| Priority 3: Provide access to state lands for public and private use, settlement, and recreation. |
Target #1: Process a minimum of 80% of land use applications received.
Not included in the above numbers are Interagency Land Management Assignments, Cooperative Resource Management Agreements, and trespass cases. DMLW supports other state agencies through the issuance of Interagency Land Management Assignments, and issues Cooperative Resource Management Agreements with municipalities or other entities. These actions require time and attention as well as adjudicatory work. Each new authorization issued creates a new workload of contract administration, assignments, amendments, name changes, sub-lease agreements, billing, monitoring, compliance and close out, all of which is not reflected in these numbers. DMLW expects there to be more applications in future years as the state strives to bring in additional entitlement acres with high development potential each year, as federally approved infrastructure initiatives generate new projects, and DMLW moves to improve tracking and resolution of previously unauthorized uses which could be legitimately permitted. DMLW"s stewardship responsibilities that do not involve issuing an authorization are constant. The substantial amount of time staff spends on these issues takes them away from their duties to process authorizations. FY2025 Received Issued Leases 169 194 Material Sale 51 46 Permits 422 433 Easements 39 52 Target Last Modified: 10/11/2025 |
Target #2: Process a minimum of 90% of new water use applications received.
Of the 463 total water authorizations issued in FY2025, DMLW issued 195 water appropriations and 268 temporary water use authorizations. A water appropriation backlog reduction project was begun in FY2022, greatly increasing the rate of authorizations issued. Progress against the appropriation backlog is expected to continue, though at a reduced pace as the remaining casefiles are more complex. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #3: Process a minimum of 80% of land use applications received.
Not included in the above numbers are Interagency Land Management Assignments, Cooperative Resource Management Agreements, and trespass cases. DMLW supports other state agencies through the issuance of Interagency Land Management Assignments, and issues Cooperative Resource Management Agreements with municipalities or other entities. These actions require time and attention as well as adjudicatory work. Each new authorization issued creates a new workload of contract administration, assignments, amendments, name changes, sub-lease agreements, billing, monitoring, compliance and close out, all of which is not reflected in these numbers. DMLW expects there to be more applications in future years as the state strives to bring in additional entitlement acres with high development potential each year, as federally approved infrastructure initiatives generate new projects, and DMLW moves to improve tracking and resolution of previously unauthorized uses which could be legitimately permitted. DMLW"s stewardship responsibilities that do not involve issuing an authorization are constant. The substantial amount of time staff spends on these issues takes them away from their duties to process authorizations. FY2024 Received Issued Leases 143 110 Material Sale 50 41 Permits 450 423 Easements 30 43 Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #4: Process a minimum of 90% of new water use applications received.
Of the 519 total water authorizations issued in FY2024, DMLW issued 262 water appropriations and 257 temporary water use authorizations. Applications for temporary water use applications were up considerably from 231 applications in FY2023 to 331 applications in FY2024. Whereas, applications for water appropriations was 174 for FY2024 as compared to 141 in FY2023. A water appropriation backlog reduction project was begun in FY2022, greatly increasing the rate of authorizations issued. Progress against the appropriation backlog is expected to continue, though at a reduced pace as the remaining casefiles are more complex. Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #5: Provide accessible, clean, safe, and well-maintained park facilities for Alaska residents and visitors by reducing deferred maintenance needs in park units.
Target Last Modified: 10/07/2025 |
Target #6: Provide accessible, clean, safe, and well-maintained park facilities for Alaska residents and visitors by reducing deferred maintenance needs in park units.
Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #7: Collect fees necessary to reach authorized program receipt funds in the Parks Management and Access budget; annually evaluate and if necessary, raise fees in order to reach program receipts authorization.
Any new investments in the division"s infrastructure will be reviewed with the idea of sustainability and revenue producing potential in mind. Investments in public use cabins, electronic fee stations, and similar infrastructure have revenue producing potential and fill a demonstrated public demand. Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #8: Collect fees necessary to reach authorized program receipt funds in the Parks Management and Access budget; annually evaluate and if necessary, raise fees in order to reach program receipts authorization.
Any new investments in the division"s infrastructure will be reviewed with the idea of sustainability and revenue producing potential in mind. Investments in public use cabins, electronic fee stations, and similar infrastructure have revenue producing potential and fill a demonstrated public demand. Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
| Priority 4: Ensure sufficient data acquisition and assessment of land and resources to foster responsible resource and community development and public safety. |
Target #1: Publish airborne geophysical survey data for Alaska`s minerals-interest lands.
The federal Earth MRI critical-minerals program was funded by the U.S. Congress in FY2020 (federal fiscal year 2019) to acquire airborne geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, and lidar over areas of the nation with critical mineral potential. Additional funds were added through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in FY2023, elevating federal funding levels through FY2027. DGGS has been engaged by the USGS to manage geophysical surveying contracts covering large portions of Alaska`s mineral districts. In FY2025 DGGS released 2,646 square miles of helicopter-flown electromagnetic data in the Kaiyuh Hills on the Seward Peninsula, and 115 sq. mi. of helicopter magnetic and radiometric data in the Tofty area, Interior Alaska. In late FY2025 and early FY2026, DGGS continued acquisition of fixed-wing and helicopter magnetic and radiometric data in the Kuskokwim mountains area of Southwest Alaska; new survey data blocks are scheduled for publication in FY2026. Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #2: Publish reports on energy-related geology that assist the energy industry and state agencies in exploring for and managing energy resources on state-interest lands.
DGGS successfully met the target number of energy reports, despite challenges with delays and federal funding. DGGS was selected for a major DOE critical minerals grant (CORE CM Phase 2) with funding scheduled for January 2025, but the award has yet to be distributed; thus, staff dedicated extensive time in preparation for work that did not occur. A DOE carbon storage grant proposal (Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture & Storage [ARCCS]) required significant staff contributions and was awarded, but the grant has been terminated. The Energy section made significant progress standing up the new geothermal energy program, although many planned activities await permission to hire technical staff. Related links: Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Last refreshed: 02/13/2026 05:00 pm